Before you read this, if you are a believer I want you to consider a few questions.
Have all fallen short of the glory of God?
And is it sinful to simply be human?
People sometimes surprise me, and sometimes they don't. It's not very rare for me to see a post on my facebook feed requesting prayers for some illness, decision or situation. I know as a Christian I prayed quite a bit about all kinds of things big and small. Like about getting a good parking spot, who I should date, that every stoplight could be green for me, for wisdom... The list goes on and on (like I said, quite a bit.) I was taught that all prayers are answered, it just might not be the timing or way that we wanted.
Many times I felt like my prayers were answered and if they weren't, I believed it was because God had another plan. The light turned red, but I would have been in an accident maybe. Or being moments late would give me an opportunity I wouldn't have had otherwise. Either way, I believed it was a victory to God. And if he cares about my small things, surely he must have even more care for bigger life issues. Right?
I can remember marveling at the universe as the handiwork of God. Especially the pillars of creation. The formation just captivated me. I thought all of this wondrous universe was created, by God, just for humanity. With omnipotence you could do quite a lot.
Most Christians I know see everything from a good parking spot to cloud formations as a message from God, meant just for them.
The other day my wife told me about a woman on facebook who revealed her baby had stopped breastfeeding and when she took it to the doctor they told her, that this infant would die in a few weeks and there was nothing which could be done. It's heartbreaking. I cannot imagine the depth of agony this family must feel being helpless to do anything but watch as this tiny new life fades with suffering.
Many responded to the post saying they would pray.
I wonder if they were doing it right? Or if no one praying did so in the name of Jesus? In truth I have absolutely no doubt that many of them genuinely believe and used the name of Jesus in their prayer.
I can already hear believers' excuses. "It's all part of God's plan." or that mankind brought sin into the world and that's why we have such deadly diseases.
I went down so many lines of thinking on this. Why would God allow a soul to be brought into this world and not give them a choice, if the whole point of life is to give us an opportunity to choose him?
Bottom line is though, that set of verses in John is false.
What is worse to me is that people are so quick to give a fictional deity the glory for a parking spot as a prayer answered, and so quick to make excuses on the much more meaningful unresponsiveness of the asserted character when it comes to dying children around the world. Especially the ones we do not yet have a way to save.
Empathy enables me to feel pain for this family in a way no imaginary character can.
It is exceptionally arrogant to think God made all the universe, kept the traffic lights green, and saved a parking spot just for you instead of saving this baby from the incurable.
Many times I felt like my prayers were answered and if they weren't, I believed it was because God had another plan. The light turned red, but I would have been in an accident maybe. Or being moments late would give me an opportunity I wouldn't have had otherwise. Either way, I believed it was a victory to God. And if he cares about my small things, surely he must have even more care for bigger life issues. Right?
I can remember marveling at the universe as the handiwork of God. Especially the pillars of creation. The formation just captivated me. I thought all of this wondrous universe was created, by God, just for humanity. With omnipotence you could do quite a lot.
Most Christians I know see everything from a good parking spot to cloud formations as a message from God, meant just for them.
The other day my wife told me about a woman on facebook who revealed her baby had stopped breastfeeding and when she took it to the doctor they told her, that this infant would die in a few weeks and there was nothing which could be done. It's heartbreaking. I cannot imagine the depth of agony this family must feel being helpless to do anything but watch as this tiny new life fades with suffering.
Many responded to the post saying they would pray.
I wonder if they were doing it right? Or if no one praying did so in the name of Jesus? In truth I have absolutely no doubt that many of them genuinely believe and used the name of Jesus in their prayer.
I can already hear believers' excuses. "It's all part of God's plan." or that mankind brought sin into the world and that's why we have such deadly diseases.
I went down so many lines of thinking on this. Why would God allow a soul to be brought into this world and not give them a choice, if the whole point of life is to give us an opportunity to choose him?
Bottom line is though, that set of verses in John is false.
What is worse to me is that people are so quick to give a fictional deity the glory for a parking spot as a prayer answered, and so quick to make excuses on the much more meaningful unresponsiveness of the asserted character when it comes to dying children around the world. Especially the ones we do not yet have a way to save.
Empathy enables me to feel pain for this family in a way no imaginary character can.
It is exceptionally arrogant to think God made all the universe, kept the traffic lights green, and saved a parking spot just for you instead of saving this baby from the incurable.
To go back to my questions to believers at the beginning: What sin could this baby have possibly committed?
You ask a very good Stephen Fry question. Why does a good & powerful God answer a trivial request such as an empty car parking space & close his ears to the cry of parents who plead for the life of their baby? Tough question indeed! Because we cannot understand God, does that mean he doesn't exist? There are two responses! Firstly I can become angry & bitter toward God & conclude he doesn't exist! Or I could ask God to guide me through this horrible tunnel & ask him to show me how he can use this experience for positive good. I constantly struggle with these issues. I do know that Christ followers who have experienced similar pain as the couple who lost their baby become very powerful followers of Christ who allow God to use their pain for positive good. Just because I don't understand God, does not bring me to the conclusion that he doesn't exist.
ReplyDeleteI want to be as clear about this as possible, i do not know if a deity does or does not exist. I am not concluding that one does not exist. What i am saying is that when Jesus says you can ask whatever in his name, it isn't true. My conclusion is that the Bible isn't true and that God as described by the Bible is a character of fiction. I am also pointing out how believer will give God the glory (i am using verbiage familiar to believers here) either way.
DeleteMany people do give God the glory when nice things happen in their lives. it is easy to say "Praise the Lord" during those times. I have listened to many Church sermons and would have to say that the reality of what I view in many people's lives are so far removed from what is said that, like you, I wonder who God is and does he really exist. I've been on quite a journey over the years and have been hurt deeply by so called Christians and truly believed that if God existed why is he ignoring my pain. I discovered he (God) was not ignoring my pain but rather allowing me to to grow and mature so that I can be God's hands in showing his love to those he brings into my path. God gave us the gift of choice which in turn provides risk in that we could and have rejected him. I remember Corrie ten Boom, who lost her family in concentration camps during WWII, being confronted with the sorts of questions you and even I ask. In such horrible darkness why wont God do anything if he truly existed. Her sister Betsy (who was dying through mistreatment) said that through the love they are showing in their ministry to the other prisoners, God is shining his light. Most people want a better life here on earth. God wants our eternity to be better. We are victims of people's choices and I cannot control that. But I can control how I respond to the bad things that happen in this world. I choose to use them to be God's light to people who are in despair. That is true and mature love, not simply making things better.
Delete